U.S. raises concerns about plight of civilians and urges Ankara to exercise restraint

BEIRUT—Turkey launched a weekend offensive on a Syrian Kurdish enclave, raising tensions with the U.S. and opening a new front in the seven-year war after watching rivals gain ground on the battlefield.

On Sunday, Turkey said it had begun a ground offensive with tanks, special forces and infantrymen in Afrin, near the Turkish border in northern Syria, a day after Turkish jets began bombarding the area. The Turkish military said airstrikes hit 45 targets on Sunday and artillery fire struck more than 150 others.